MLB Betting Predictions for the Last Weeks of the 2018 Regular Season

With about six weeks remaining in the 2018 regular season MLB Betting action, there is intrigue building in just about every division. While Boston leads the American League East by 10 games (and sits 50 games over .500), the question now becomes whether they can break Seattle’s record for wins in a regular season — and if they can sustain things into the postseason. After all, Seattle lost in the first round of the playoffs last year, and the team whose record they beat (Cleveland in 1954) went on to lose in the first round of their playoffs (which was the World Series back then). Cleveland is also running away with their division, leading the AL Central by 12 ½ games over Minnesota. However, the other four division races are much tighter, as Houston leads the AL West by two games over Oakland, Atlanta leads Philadelphia by two games in the National League East, the Cubs lead Milwaukee in the NL Central by three games, and Arizona leads Colorado and the Dodgers in the NL West by just 1 ½ games. What can we expect down the stretch? Take a look at our sports betting insights as you figure out how to wager in the season’s last month and a half.

MLB Betting Predictions for the Last Weeks of the 2018 Regular Season

.@mattchap6 makes the hot corner look ice cold. pic.twitter.com/mCeSopqxgk

— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) 16 de agosto de 2018

The Yankees win the first wild card and host the play-in game

Remember, Gary Sanchez and Aaron Judge have both been on the shelf — and the Yankees are still 30 games over .500. Giancarlo Stanton is one major reason, as he has an OPS of 1.132 since August 1 and six home runs over that stretch. He must keep hitting for the Yankees to manage to stave off Oakland, though, as the Athletics are pulling off one of their late-season runs. Oakland has won 36 of their last 48, and Khris Davis is tops in the American League in long balls since July 1 with 14, and he and Matt Chapman have both posted OPS better than .990 over that time. They went and got Mike Fiers to boost their rotation. Even so, once Judge and Sanchez return, and as the A’s settle back to earth, I see the Yankees hosting that game — although it wouldn’t surprise me to see Oakland as the visiting squad, and later become one of the MLB Betting favorites to win it all.

Atlanta will hold off the Phillies in the NL East

Ronald Acuna Jr. is one of the most exciting players in all of baseball right now, and the whole league is seeing it. He has been the leadoff batter and that confidence has paid off as he has been raking. The Phillies are getting great play from pitchers Vince Velasquez and Aaron Nola and from fielders like Scott Kingery. However, the Braves’ youth movement has a little more seasoning, as we’re seeing with the Braves peaking in the right time of the season, as the Phillies’ offensive production has slipped a bit over the last week.

Arizona will win the NL West

We liked the Dodgers to win this division a few weeks ago, but with the way David Peralta has been hitting for the Diamondbacks — hitting .392 since the All-Star break to lead all of baseball and posting a 1.006 home OPS, while hitting five home runs in August — Paul Goldschmidt no longer the only big threat in the lineup. The Dodgers did add Manny Machado, but they lost closer Kenley Jansen to an irregular heartbeat until at least September, and the bullpen was the culprit in three losses to Colorado this past weekend, all by a single run. The Diamondbacks have the offense and the confidence to keep their lead in the division and become one of the MLB Betting favorites to win it all.

Houston wins the AL West but flames out in the playoffs

The Astros’ offense has been dreadful for the last month. As of Wednesday, they were tied with last-place Texas for runs scored, but the fact that the Astros had permitted 250 fewer runs at that point made the difference. Their rotation has been notably solid, as they are the only team remaining in MLB to have used only five starting pitchers this year, and the rotation leads MLB in strikeouts, WHIP, and ERA. However, if they can’t score in the clutch, the ALDS will be the end of their season.